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2 Sheets-Sheet l. T. SIXSMITH.

SGAFPOLD STANDARD.

Patented Oet. 15, 1889.

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(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

T. SIXSMITILI.l SGAPPOLD STANDARD;

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Afro/my N. PETERS, PnolLdhagrAphur, Washmgloll, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS SIXSMITH, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

SCAFFOLD-STAN DARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 412,989, dated OCtClbeI 15, 1889.

Application filed March 14, 1889. Serial No. $03,254:. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS SIXSMITH, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Scaifold-Standard, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a scaffold-supporting standard, and has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient standard of this character for the use of painters, calciminers, and other inside or outside workmen, and a standard which may be readily adjusted to substantially support scaffoldplanks at any required height and allow building a scaffold of any desired area, and allow of shifting it easily while work is being done, and capable of being folded into comparatively small space when not in use.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts of the scaffold, all as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding` parts in all the figures.

Figure l is an edge View of a pair of scaffold-standards, one being shown in vertical section, a few planks being also shown on the standards. Fig. 2 is a side or face View of one of the standards, and shows a few planks placed thereon. Fig. 3 is a plan view of four of the standards as arranged to build a long .wide scaffold, the planks of which are shown in full and dotted lines. Fig. Li is a detail sectional elevation takenon the line l l in Fig. Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view of the scaifoldupright, its block, and the block latch or detent, and taken on the lines 2 2 in Figs. 2 and it; and Fig. U is adetail View illustrating how the head portion of the T- iron scaffold-frame is made.

In the preferred construction the scaffoldstandard consists of an open frame A, preferably made of metal and in general rectangular form, and a scaffold-planksupporting block B, fitted for vertical adjustment on the frame. The frame may be made of wood or of metal bars or tubes ofV any cross-section and bent or jointed to produce a structure of the general form shown; but I prefer to make the frame mainly of one piece or bar of T-iron having an outer face-plate ce and an inner rib a', the latter being slotted at c2 a2 (see Fig. 6) prior to bending the bar twice at right angles, which causes the parts of the ribs a next the slots u? to lap onto each other, whereupon two rivets or bolts a3 will be passed through holes in the lapped-rib parts to complete the top portion of the frame. The lower ends of the frame side bars are bent outward toward the bottom to form legsA', and about at the point of outward curvature a bottom cross-piece or tie-bar a4 is bolted to the opposing rib portions a a of the standard. To this tie-bar is pivoted by a bolt or pin a5 the top orarch plate of a pair of legs A2, formed, preferably, in one piece of cast or wrought metal and adapted to swing around into the plane of the sides of the main frame to facilitate its transportation or storage. Vhen the legs A2 are swung around on their pivot a5 at right angles with the other two main legs A', they may be so held or latched by a pin or any-suitable device, and the four legs or feet then give a most substantial support to the whole standard when in use.

The standard-fraineis preferably provided at the sides with series of pins or bolts A3, serving as foot-rests to workmen while climbing onto the scaffold-floor, which the standards support.

The plank-supporting block B is provided at opposite ends with slots receiving the ribs a of the standard side bars, and is provided also with lugs Z), formed in opposing pairs at top and bottom of the block and shaped as hooks, which engage the opposite edges of the face-plate a of the standard-iron. The block B is slipped upward over the feet c. of the standard before the lower tie-bar a4 is secured in place, andthe block may be adjusted higher or lower on the standard and held at any required height by any suitable detent or latch. A desirable latch device consists of a pair of elastic metal plates or strips C, which are fastened at one' end to the block B and at their other ends carry pins c, which normally pass through holes in the block into any two holes c of series of such holes made in the opposite ribs a a of the standard-frame. By springing the free ends of the plates C outward their pins c will be withdrawn from the standard-holes c, and the IOO block may then be shifted higher or lower on the standard and be fastened in another position by allowing the latch-pins c to enter other holes c of the standard. The block may or may not be provided with one or more top spurs or pins g to enter and steady aplank placed on the block.

The most important features of my invention reside in the block which sustains ordinary scaffold-planks of the same size both edgewise and fiatwise on a support or standard to allow building' of various styles of scaffolds with the same standards and planks. An extended experience in the mechanic arts has not disclosed to me a practicable scaffoldstandard capable of the `aforesaid functions. The block B, made vertically adjustable on the open frame-standard in the manner above described, is the best embodiment of the invention known to me, although I am not limited to this precise construction. I show this block B provided with three independent vertical slots or openings H, in each of which the end of an ordinary scaffold-plank I, of ten or twelve inches in width, may be sustained edgewise; but there may be but two of the independent slots H, each adapted to sustain edgewise the end of an ordinary scaffold-plank; or there may be but one vertical slot wide enough to sustain the lapped ends of two adjacent planks set edgewise. However these vertical slots are made in the blocks, each block has besides said slot or slots a supporting-face of sufficient width to safely sustain an ordinary scaffold-plank flatwise, this snpporting-face in the block shown being its upper face, which is preferably provided wit-h the spurs g, above mentioned. The advantage of fitting this plank-supporting block into a standard made as an open frame is, that the opposite sides of said frame prevent lateral slip of the flat plank from its supportingface at the block; hence this open frame-standard is preferred in practice.

The drawings illustrate some of the principal uses to which the standards may be put to support scaffolding' of various areas. In the simplest form of scaffold a plank G will be laid flat on the blocks B of two standards, as indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. It is obvious that two pairs of standards, each pairsupporting on its blocks a flat plank G, may be used, and other planks may be sustain ed on these two planks to make a larger scaffold; but when planks are to be sustained on other planks supported by the blocks B of two standards I much prefer to place these sustaining-planks I edgewise in the block-slots II, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and lay the upper scaifoldplanks proper flat onto the Lipper edges of the planks I, Which thus give far more substantial support to them thanv sustaining-planks laid iiat upon the standard-blocks would afford. When a broader scaffolding is required, or one having a width about equaling the length 0f two ordinary planks, the scaffold will be erected as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. In this case I use aseries of the standards set with their frames A ranging laterally along the center of a wide room and place end-lapped planks I edgewise in the slots H of the blocks B of these central standards, thus forming what maybe termed a central backbone to the scaffold. Then at each side of the room I place a series of the standards with their fiat sides presented to the center standards. A series of planks N are then placed fiatwise at their outer ends on the blocks B of the side standards, and at their inner ends are laid across the planks I in the center standards, and two series of planks O (indicated in dotted lines) will then be laid on these planks N, one series at each side of the center standards, said planks O ranging lengthwise of the room and extending clear across from one side of it to the other to provide a substantial scaffold, giving access to the entire ceiling or upper walls of a room. However the standards may be adj usted, the scaffold-planks they sustain may be held at any required height by setting the blocks B higher or lower on the standards, which may be provided with ordinary caster-wheels, allowing the scaffold to be rolled along as work drying quickly is being done from it.

I am aware that the essence of my invention as regards the plank-supporting block lies mainly in the particular form of the block, as various scaffold-standards have heretofore been made with a post or frame support and blocks or brackets thereon having various forms. As instances I mention several patents known to me, as follows: The patent to R. Deeves, No. 264,934, dated September 26, 1882, showsa support B specially adapted to receive joists or put logs, but no mention is made therein of sustaining an ordinary ten or twelve inch plank edgewise in the support, nor of sustaining said plank safely flatwise on said support. I also mention the patent to T. Thorn, No, 334,825, dated January 26, 1886, which shows movable brackets adapted to be clamped by wedges to post-uprights; but said brackets are not adapted to safely sustain an ordinary scaffold-plank set ilatwise. I also mention the patent to T. C. Goudie, N o. 344,734, dated .I une 29,1886, which shows openframe standards having verticallyadjustable cross-heads operated by windlasses and capable of sustaining one or more ordinary planks flatwise, but devoid of a vertical body slot or slots in which one or more planks may be held edgewise. I also mention the patent to G. W. Ziegler, No. 362,914, dated May 10, 1887, which shows a bracket adapted for removable attachment at various heights to a trestle and adapted to sustain a plank edgewise, but incapable of safely sustaining an ordinary scaffold-plank flatwise. I also inention the patent to W. Tussey, No. 127,442, dated June 4, 1872, which shows open-frame standards and scaffold-planks set on two beams sustained on pins set in four of the standards.

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I also mention the patent to A. Metz, No. 216,433, dated June l0, 1879, which shows two open-frame standards receiving crosspins on which a beam sustaining a plank is supported. l also mention the patent to J. S. Tilley, No. 140,848, dated July 15, 1873, which shows a vertically-adj ustable standardprovided at its upper end with a pair of pivoted plates, which when turned one way support a scaffold-plank flatwise, and when turned the other way form opposite side guides to a plank sustained cdgewise on top of the standard. These three last-named patents fail to disclose a standard having a block or support provided in its body portion with a vertical slot ranging at right angles to the general plane of the standard and adapted to sustain one or more ordinary scaifold-plauks edgewise, and also adapted to safely support such a plank flatwisc.

Mechanics or workmen of all classes would doubtless find it advantageous to use a scaffold-standard comprising uprights and ordinary planks of about one Width-say ten or twelve inches wide-which may be used indiscriminately either as the scaffold-floor or as floor-supports when set either iiatwise or edgewise on blocks on the standards, and this my simple invention provides for most effectively and advantageously, as unskilled workmen with the standards and ordinaryV ten or twelve inch planks may quickly erect a substantial scaffold without the aid of joists or scantling, which would not serve well as a scaffold-floor, or would be too weak or too heavy or would require too much time to handle them to make their use as a scaffold-flooring either desirable or practicable.

Considering the very wide use of scaffolding by all classes of mechanics and the fact that no such scaffold-standard as my invention discloses has before been produced, I believe that the herein-described const-ruction of scaffold standard is clearly within the domain of invention, and is not merely the exercise of ordinary mechanical skill or judgment.

Having thus fully described my invention, l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A scaifold-standard made with an upright support, and a block thereon provided in its body portion with one or more openings adapted to sustain ordinary scaffold-planks set edgewise, and having a supporting-face of sufcient width to safely sustain one of said planks iiatwise, substantially as herein set forth.

2. A scaffold-standard made with an upright support, and a block thereon provided in its body portion with two or more independent vertically-ranging slots or openings, each adapted to sustain the end of au ordinary scaiold-plank set edgewise, said block having a supporting-face of sufficient width to safely sustain one of said planks atwise, substantially as set forth.

3. A scaffold-standard made with an upright support, a block vertically adjustable thereon and provided in its body portion with an opening adapted to sustain ordinary scaffold-planks set edgewise, and having a supporting-face of sufficient Width to sustain one of said planks flatwise, and a detent for the block on the support, substantially as herein set forth.

4. A scaffold-standard made with an upright support, a block vertically adjustable thereon and provided in its body portion with two or more independent vertically-ranging slots or openings, each adapted to receive an ordinary scaffold-plank set edgewise, said block having a supporting-face of sufficient width to sustain one of said planks atwise, and a detent for the block on the support, substantially as herein set forth.

5. A scaffold-standard made with an upright support formed as an open frame, a block vertically adjustable on the frame and provided in its body portion with one or more openings adapted to sustain ordinary scaffoldlank set edgewise and having a su ortinp c 7 o pp a face between the opposite sides of the frame of sufficient Width to sustain one of said planks flatwise, and a detent sustaining the block on the open-frame upright, substantially as herein set forth.

6. A scaffold-standard made with an upright support formed as an open frame provided at its lower end with two legs or feet in the plane of the frame, and provided also with another pair of legs or feet swiveled to a lower cross-piece of the frame and adapted to be swung around at right angles to the plane of the frame and to fold in like plane therewith, combined with a block held to the frame and adapted to sustain scaifold-planks, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

THOMAS SIXSMITH.

Witnesses:

HENRY L. GOODWIN, C. SEDGWICK.

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